Last month, Apple published a 20-page document outlining the security architecture of iOS, in what amounted to its first public disclosure of the operating system's security mechanisms. Security experts hailed the move as a positive for the legendarily secretive company.

Though it is possible De Atley will be covering the information already laid out in the iOS security document, security researchers are nonetheless encouraged by Apple's official participation at Black Hat.

"This is definitely a step in the right direction," Richard Bejtlich, chief security officer at Mandiant, told CRN. "Hopefully Apple will allow him to take questions and make him available during the week of the event."

David Sockol, president and chief executive of Emagined Security, San Carlos, Calif., sees Apple's newfound openness on security as part of major push into the enterprise. "Executives want to support mobile devices in the enterprise, but they need proof that devices will be secure and that data won't leak," he said.